Mayor Kenney takes on diplomatic role during business trip to Canada

Kenney's trip to Quebec has a two-fold mission.

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney was set to leave Saturday for a business trip to Quebec. The trip has a two-fold mission.

The mayor says there are a number of IT companies that are interested in expanding to Philadelphia and he'll attend pitch sessions with them and four members of the Commerce Department, traveling with him. They'll also do a roundtable at Bentley Systems, which has offices in both Quebec and Philadelphia.

But Kenney says business prospects are only one part of the official mission.

"I think it's also important to repair the damage the national administration is doing to the world," the mayor said. "I think there's a lot of concern, the direction of America with Canada is doing. I think it's important that cities reinforce the fact that we love Canada and we want to be their partner and be their friend, and I think we're going behind the president cleaning up messes that he's made.

The city is paying for the travel, which is expected to total $15,000.